Automatic shut-off valve.



J. G. TAYLOR.

AUTOMATIC SHUT-OFF VALVE APPLICATION mum JULYn, 19s.,

mtentad Aug. 11, 1914,

Witnesses.

MQQIW V/ r H m h LN A 0 l These devices usually have a valve which is OFFICE;

JAMES .C. TAYLOR, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, 'ASSIGNOR OF ONE THIRD T O CHARLES H. MAIERS, OF NORWOOD, MASSACHUSETTS, A ND ONE-THIBD TO JOHN GALWAY, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

AUTOMATIC SHUT-OFF VALVE To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES C. TAYLOR, a-

citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, county of Suifolk, State of Massafollowing descri tion, in connection with the chusetts, have invented an Improvement in Automatic ShutJJtl Valves, of which the accompanying rawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like arts.

This invention relates to automatic shutotf valves such as are placedbetween the gas meter and supply pipe to shut off the gas in case of tire, and it provides a fool-proof and malice-proof device of this nature.

normally heldby fusible meansin position to allow the free passage of g'vigsaid fusible v I means-being so disposed as to become fused i creases-beyond a'certain point, and the valve when the temperature adjacent the device in being soconstructed as to find its seat automati cally when the fusible meansis fused and. thereby "shut ofi the-flow of gas.

My invention has for an object to provide a device of this class which will be simple in construction and operation and one which .-it, will be impossibleeither through ignorance or with malicious or fraudulent'intent to alter so that it will notoperate in case of "Other objects will ap ear from the following specification in w ich my device will be fully described and the novel features will-be pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In accordance'with my invention I provide a -valve casing formed of one integral casting "having a fluid passage therethrough and a moral chamber adjacent to the passage in which a ballwalve. is releasably retamed by a .fusible stop. The device is so arranged that access tothe valve is impossible 'exoept by removing the stop or entirely;

disconnecting the device and upon removal of the stop the valve falls shutting off the SI] ly of p li iaferrin g to the drawing, Figure 1 is a view-showing my improved valve applied between a supply pipe and the gas meter. Fig. 2 is a central-longitudinal section of the valve.

Referring to the drawingin detail 1 indicates a gas meter, 2 a gas supply pipe be- Speciflcatioiz of Letters latcnt. Application gumm 1?, 1913. Serial 1%. 779,471.

may be of -fusible material or may beret other material and fusibly connected to the. f.

3 is inserted. This shut off comprises a main casting 4 having a-pa ssage 5 therethrou b which is preferably straight as shown; t e 7 lower portion being gradually tapered as at 6 and alsov having a laterally dis osed portion forming a valve-receiving c amber or recess 8 which communicates with thep'as sage 5 above the tapered portion 6 andnormally receives a hallwalve 7. Said lateral chamber or recess 8 has an inclinedbottom so that the ball valve will rollby gravity therefrom into the tapered portion 6 when it is released, the upper end'of said chamber or recess being closed. The ball valve 7 is normally retained in said lateral chamber. 8 by a plug 9 of brass or some otherheat conducting material which may be screw threaded to fit tightly into a hole 10 in the 1 side of the lateral chamber. To the. ,.end of this plug is secured a projection 111" which Patented Aug. 11, 1914.

as, v

plugQThe plo -,9 is preferably-tapered slightlyv and the 'a er'ture f0 willbecorrespondingly tapere ,whereby the, extent which the plug can be screwed into thehole \villbe-limited'. The plug with'it ;projec-- tion 11 is so ositioned that it will normally retain'theba l valve 7 in its inoperative poj to the plug. as in the case 05:: fire occurring sition in the chamber but ifheat is applie d the projection 11 will become fused and the" ball valve willautomatically fall into the tapered ortion 6 of the passa e as show n in dotted lines at 13 Wherev it wi l wedge and shut off the supply of gas. If, for any reason the plug 9 is rcmoved by unauthorized persons the ball valve will fall shutting 06' I the gas as in case of fire and it will then be necessary;' to call a as fitter before any gas can be used. The p ug,may be shaped tobe operated by'a special 1 wrench making -it more difficult for unauthorized persons to: tamper with the device.

'It will be noted that the wallsof the chamber 8 form an integral part of the casting 4 and that the only openingtthrough which the ball-valve 7 can be inserted into -the chamber 8 is the open end of the cast ing. Hence after the ball-valveis" roperly placed in its chamber 8 and the pug1 9 is adjusted to hold the ball-valve therein, and

the shut-oti device is connected supply pipe, there is no ay in which the "ball-valve can be lnoved f om the casing or tampered with so as to )revent it from working except by (lis(.-oni eeting the shutoll' deviro from the supply )ipe. Moreover, if any unal'ithorized persl r tanipers with the plug J and unsrrews it airy-the valve will fall thus shuttingJotl the slup )ly from the meter.- It will thus be seen t-at the shutofl' devire cannot be tani )'ered' with so as to render -it,inoperative withdut shutting oll' the g from the meter and ti gsg-iviug an indiration .ot the fact that .lsomethin'g is wrong. I "'T i 1 1 W hile I have illustrated one en'ibodiment of my invention I. do not wish to be limited to the co'gstruetional detailsshown Having -deserihed my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A valve comprising a' casing having a passage t-heiethrough, a portion of the passage hei-n'gfgradually tapered and a laterally dig-spewed portion integral with said easing io'rminga. valve receivingrecess: ha ing its outeinend-elosxzd, said recess opening into the passage abm Valve"H10tlllttltlilljSltlt-l 'l'U'tfbS and adapted to fit the taperedport-ionand alretaining member having ;a fusible part positioned to normally hold the *ball valve in the lateral chamber. if r 2. \n-=automat:ie shutailf valve comprising aliasing having a straight passage therethrou'gh, a portionthereofbeing gradually tapered and alaterally disposed.- portion integrahvvith said easingxforming a valve reee ving recess having its outer end closed, said reeess I open] n g into the passage above the tapered portion a ball the gradually tapered portion, a ball valve mounted in the lateral chamber and a fusitile retaining member holding the ball valve in its position in the lateral chamber adapted upon being heated to allow the ball valve to tlrop'into the tapered portion and wedge therein.

It. A valve comprising a casing havin a passage therethrough, and a laterally isposed portion integral with said easing l'ornzing a valve receiving recess having its outer end elosed, said recess openin the passage, a ball valve mounted in the into lateral recess and adapted to fit the assage,"

and a retaining member having a fusi le part positioned to normally hold the ball valve in" the lateral recess, V

4. An automatic shut oil valve comprising a easing having a passage therethrough, a

'- laterally disposed portion integral with said easing forming a valve receiving recess having its outer end closed, said recess opening into said passage, aball valve mounted in the lateral .reress, and a plug fitting an aperture in the wall of said laterally disposed portion, said plug providedwith a fusible portion and sopositloned as to normally reda'n. the valve in said lateral recess but adapt d uponbeingsrlnatted to allow the valve to drop in'tosa'id passage, subst'aw tially as: and for the purpose set forth.

in testimony -\vhereo.l ,i have signed my name to this speeilimtion, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES C. TAYLQR.

Witnesses :7. i v

' Louis (1; SM-i'ril,

- 'lnoMAs J. Duu-M MoNu'. 

